Image recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image recording apparatus provided with a reader for reading information for identifying an original document; a recording unit for recording the image of the original document on a recording medium; a selector for selecting a first mode or a second mode; and a controller for causing the recording unit to record the image only when the identifying information is read by the reading means if the first mode is selected, or causing the recording unit to record the image regardless of the reading of the identifying information if the second mode is selected.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/311,282filed Feb. 16, 1989 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus forrecording an original image, accompanied by information for identifyingeach original image, on a recording medium.

2. Related Background Art

Storage of original images on microfilms or optical or magnetic diskshave already been adopted for saving the storage space of variousoriginal documents generated in a large number, such as business forms,cheques or the like. For enabling easy access to such stored images,there is required input of index information corresponding to eachimage, but the input operation of such index information has beenextremely time consuming. For solving this problem, there is alreadyknown an apparatus for reading the image on the original document andsimultaneously reading code information, attached in advance to saidoriginal document as index information, with a suitable mechanism suchas a bar code scanner, a magnetic image character reader (MICR), or anoptical character reader (OCR).

In such known apparatus, an original document such as a business form ora cheque, bearing a bar code as the index information, is placed on aphotographing position, and the image of said document is recorded on amicrofilm in a photographing unit while the bar code of said originaldocument is read with a bar code reader at the same time.

The bar code thus read is stored in a memory in such a manner that saidbar code corresponds to the address (frame) number of the image recordedon the microfilm, thereby ensuring easy access to the image later.

In such conventional apparatus, however, the index information will belost if the bar code of the original document is smeared, or thedocument lacks such bar code for some reason. For such original documentthere is required a manual input of the corresponding index informationafterwards into the memory.

However the business forms etc. often have a back-printed carbon layerfor copying, which tends to smear another form when it is superposedthereon. Besides such business forms are often handled rather roughly.Consequently the above-mentioned trouble occurs quite frequently, and itis not easy to find out the original document for which the bar code hasnot been read. For this reason the above-mentioned input operation isnot efficient, and the access to the stored image later may becomeimpossible if said input operation is forgotten.

Also in such conventional apparatus, the manipulation is cumbersomebecause the operation of input of the index information with the barcode scanner is conducted independently from the photographing operationof the original image on the microfilm with a photographing switch. Apossibility therefore exists that the access to the stored image becomesimpossible because the input of the index information is forgotten atthe photographing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the foregoing, an object of the present invention isto solve the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recordingapparatus capable of simplifying the input of index information and theimage recording operation, thereby preventing the forgotten input of theindex information.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imagerecording apparatus capable of securely selecting the original documentfor which the index information has not been read, and securely enterand record the index information and the image.

More specifically the present invention provides an image recordingapparatus comprising:

reader means for reading index information for identifying the originaldocument;

recording means for recording the image of the original document; and

mode selector means for selecting either a first mode for recording theimage of the original document only when the index information is readby said reader means, or a second mode for image recording independentlyfrom the reading of the index information.

Also the present invention provides an image recording apparatuscomprising control means for activating said recording means in relationto the reading of the index information by said reader means.

Also the present invention provides an information recording-retrievalsystem comprising:

reader means for reading index information for identifying the image;

recording means for recording address information indicating theposition of image recording, in relation to the index information forsaid image;

input means for entering the index information;

mode selector means;

control means for effecting, when a first mode is selected by said modeselector means, the image recording only when the index information isread by said reader means, or, when a second mode is selected, effectingthe image recording only when the index information is entered by saidinput means; and

retrieval means for searching the information recorded in said recordingmeans and selecting the address information corresponding to a desiredimage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image recording apparatus constitutinga first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an upper plan view of an original document;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control sequence of said firstembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for another embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an image recording apparatus constitutinga second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the control sequence of said secondembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an image recording apparatus constitutinga third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the control sequence of said thirdembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view showing another example of the original document;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are charts showing the content of a disk;

FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of an image recording apparatusconstituting a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing thestructure of a photographing unit of said embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main control system of saidembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the control sequence of photographingoperation and so on in said embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing thestructure of a photographing unit in a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing control sequence of photographingoperation etc. in another embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing control sequence of photographingoperation etc. in still another embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a view of a microfilm bearing images recorded therein;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of index data recorded in a memory;

FIG. 21 is an external perspective view of an image recording apparatusaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a main control system of saidembodiment;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the control sequence of photographingoperation etc. in said embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the control sequence of photographingoperation etc. in another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is an external perspective view of an image recording apparatusconstituting a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of said embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a main control system of saidembodiment;

FIG. 28, 28A and 28B a flow chart showing the control sequence ofphotographing operation etc. in said embodiment;

FIG. 29, 29A and 29B a flow chart showing the control sequence ofphotographing operation etc. in another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 30 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing still anotherembodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now the present invention will be clarified in detail by embodimentsthereof shown in the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an image recording apparatus constituting afirst embodiment of the present invention. An original table 1 islaterally provided with a support pillar 2, on which a microfilm camera3 is installed. Said microfilm camera 3 is composed of a known cameramechanism, incorporating therein a rolled microfilm F.

An original document 4 to be photographed is placed on a photographingposition on the original table 1, and the image of said originaldocument 4, illuminated by an unrepresented illuminating source, isrecorded on the microfilm F by the camera 3. At this photographing, ablip mark is recorded, in a lateral part of the image recorded on thefilm, by means of unrepresented blip recording means.

The original document 4 can be a business form or a cheque, bearing, asshown in FIG. 2, a bar code 5 indicating the number of the originaldocument and serving as index information for identifying each originaldocument.

There are also provided a bar code reader 6 for reading the bar code 5on the original document; a keyboard 8 for data input; a computer (CPU)8; a disk memory 9 composed for example of a magnetic disk, an opticaldisk or a magnetooptical disk for recording index data; and a displayunit 10 for indicating the index data etc.

The recording operation of the camera 3 is executed according to aprogram of the CPU 8, of which flow chart is shown in FIG. 3.

The microfilm camera 3 and the CPU 8 are capable of bidirectionalcommunication. In case of photographing an original document, theoperator manually scans the bar code 5 of the original document 4 placedin the photographing position on the original table 1 with the bar codereader 6, thereby reading the bar code (step 1).

Upon receiving an original number represented by the bar code from thebar code reader 6, the CPU 8 records said original number in the disk 9(step 2), and, after a time lag of for example 1 second, sends aphotographing command signal to the microfilm camera 3 (steps 3, 4).Upon receipt of the signal the microfilm camera 3 starts thephotographing of the original document 4 placed in the photographingposition, and simultaneously sends the frame address of the imagerecorded on the microfilm to the CPU 8 (step 5). Said frame addressindicates the number of the frame counted from the leading end of themicrofilm, and can be determined by counting the number of film frameswith a frame counter of the microfilm camera, or by counting the numberof the original documents, or by counting the number of blip markrecordings. After the photographing of the original image, the number ofthe frame counter is sent as the frame address to the disk 9 through theCPU 8, and said frame address is recorded on the disk 9, incorrespondence with the original number (step 6). In this manner theindex data are complied on the disk 9. If the input of bar code is notconducted the step 1, the sequence does not proceed to the step 2, sothat the original document is not photographed. Consequently, if the barcode cannot be read for example by a smear, the original document is notphotographed so that incomplete index data are not formed.

The index data recorded on the disk 9, after repeating theabove-explained procedure for plural original documents, are composed,as shown in FIG. 10, of original numbers a respectively corresponding toframe addresses b. The roll film F after photographing and development,and the disk 9 are stored in this state. At the image retrieval, theoriginal number of a desired original document is entered from thekeyboard 7. Thus the CPU 8 retrieves, from the content of the disk 9(FIG. 12), the frame address corresponding to said original number, andsaid frame address is displayed on the display unit 10. The operatorreads said address and sets it in a reader-printer RP with a knownretrieving mechanism, in which the roll film F is loaded, whereby theimage of the desired original document can be displayed on a screen.

In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to manipulate thephotographing switch for activating the camera. Also the bar codeinformation and the image can be securely recorded without input error,since the original document is not photographed unless the input of thebar code is conducted.

In the following there will be explained another embodiment, in whichemployed are original documents each bearing, in advance, as shown inFIG. 9, a classification bar code 11 or 12 indicating the kind of theoriginal document (said bar code being common for the same stack oforiginal documents), and an original number bar code 5 (serial in thesame stack).

At photographing, the aforementioned bar code reader is used for readingthe classification bar code and the original number bar code, to recordthe index data, as shown in FIG. 11, on the disk 9, including theoriginal numbers a, frame addresses b, a code al indicating the salesform, and a code 2a indicating the order form.

Thereafter, the image of a desired business form recorded on themicrofilm can be retrieved by entering a code "100" or "101" indicatingthe kind of the stack of the business forms of the desired image, and anoriginal number into the keyboard 7.

For achieving such recording and retrieval of the original image, it isnecessary to securely enter two bar codes at the photographing of animage. FIG. 4 shows the control sequence for image recording with suchbar code reading operations.

Referring to FIG. 1, the operator at first enters the number of barcodes attached on each original document, from the keyboard 7 (step 11).Then a counter n indicating the number of inputs of the bar codes is setto "0" (step 12). Thereafter, at each input of a bar code, the datathereof are recorded on the disk (steps 13, 14), and the value of thecounter n is increased by one (step 15). After N inputs of the barcodes, a photographing command signal is sent to the microfilm camerawith a delay of one second (step 18), and a frame address received fromthe microfilm camera is recorded on the disk 9, corresponding to the barcode data already entered.

In this manner the input of required plural bar codes can be securelyachieved.

Now reference is made to FIGS. 5 and 6 for explaining anotherembodiment.

In FIG. 5, the bar code reader 6 is attached to the microfilm camera 3.When the operator scans the bar code 5 with said bar code reader 6 (step21 in FIG. 6), the information of said bar code is sent to the CPU 8(step 22). Then the operator manipulates the photographing switch 13(step 23) to photograph the original document with the camera 3 (step24), whereupon the frame address is sent to the CPU 8 (step 25). If theoperator manipulates the photographing switch 13 without entering thebar code, the photographing operation is not conducted since thesequence does not proceeds from the step 21 to 22. The above-explainedsequence is executed according to a program of an unrepresentmicrocomputer in the microfilm camera. Also the CPU 8 records the barcode information and the frame address on the disk 9.

In contrast to the first embodiment, the present embodiment lacks thewaiting time, so that the photographing operation can be conducted bythe manipulation of the photographing switch even immediately after theinput of the bar code. It is therefore possible to increase theoperating speed and to prevent forgotten input of the bar code.

Now reference is made to FIGS. 7 and 8 for explaining still anotherembodiment, in which the second and third embodiments are combined. Asshown in FIG. 7, data input keys 20 are integrally provided in thecamera. The number N of bar codes attached on each original document isentered from said keys 20 (step 31), and the counter n is set at "0"(step 32). Thereafter, at each input of bar code, said bar code data aresent to the CPU 8 (step 34), and the content of the counter n isincreased by one (step 35). When the bar code input is conducted N times(step 36), the actuation of the photographing switch 13 is monitored(step 37). In response to said actuation, the photographing operation isconducted (step 38), and the frame address is sent to the CPU (step 39).In this way the photographing switch 13 cannot be activated unless thebar code is entered N times. The above-explained control is executed bya microcomputer in the microfilm camera 3. Also the CPU 8 records thebar code information and the frame addresses in mutually correspondingrelation on the disk 9.

In the present embodiment, the photographing operation can be conductedby the manipulation of the photographing switch 13 even immediatelyafter the input of the bar code N times, so that it is possible toincrease the operating speed. Also N bar codes can be securely recorded.

In the foregoing embodiment, at the recording of an image on therecording medium, the input of index inforamtion for the image is linkedwith the image recording operation on the recording medium, so that theinformation input and the image recording can be achieved with simpleoperation. Also the index data can be securely prepared.

FIG. 12 is an external view of an image recording apparatus constitutinga fourth embodiment of the present invention, essentially compsed of aphotographing unit 101 for photographing the original document 4; acontrol unit 102 for controlling said photographing unit 101; and a keyinput unit (keyboard) 103 for entering index information.

FIG. 13 schematically shows the structure of said photographing unit101.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a sheet feeding tray 110 for stacking theoriginal documents 4 is provided at the front side of the photographingunit 101, and a sensor S1 for detecting the presence of the originaldocument 4 is provided thereunder. Adjacent to said tray 110, there isprovided transport means 111 for separating the original document one byone from the bottom and transporting them in a direction A, consistingof a belt 111c supported between rollers 111a, 111b, and a roller 111dmaintained in contact with said belt 111c at the position of the roller111a. Above said transport means 111 there is provided a bar codescanner 112 as means for reading, by automatic scanning, the bar codeattached on the original document 4. Between the rollers 111a, 111bthere is provided a sensor S2 for detecting the original document on thebelt 111c.

At the downstream side of the transport means 111 there is provided aguide plate 113, which is vertically movable by a reject solenoid 114for directing the original document either to a first path or a secondpath. By means of the movement of said guide plate 113, the originaldocument 4 transported in the direction A is guided either to transportmeans 115 positioned at an approximately same height as that of thetransport means 111 or a reject tray 116 positioned above said transportmeans 115. Said transport means 115 is composed of a pair of rollers115a, 115b and a belt 115c supported thereby. Between the reject tray116 and the guide plate 113 there are provided discharge rollers 117a,117b for discharging the original document 4 onto the tray 116.

Above the transport means 115 and adjacent to the reject tray 116, thereis provided a camera 118, serving as recording means for photographingthe original document 4 placed in a photographing position 118a on thebelt 115c onto an unrepresented microfilm. Also in the downstream sideof the transport means 115 there is provided a discharge tray 119 forreceiving the original documents after photographing.

In the upper face of the photographing unit 101, as shown in FIG. 12,there are provided a mode selector switch 120 for selecting either afirst mode for effecting the bar code reading and the originalphotographing, or a second mode for effecting the original photographingwithout bar code reading, and an alarm lamp 121 to be explained later. Asensor S3 is positioned in front of the photographing position 118a, fordetecting the presence of the original document 4. Said first or secondmode is selected respectively when the switch 120 is off or on.

FIG. 14 shows the structure of the control system of the presentembodiment. The bar code scanner 112, reject solenoid 114, camera 118,mode selector switch 120 and alarm lamp 121 of the photographing unit101 are connected to a control circuit 122, consisting of a computer, ofthe control unit 102. Also the key input unit 103 is connected to saidcontrol circuit 122. A memory M is provided for storing the index data.

Now reference is made to FIG. 15 for explaining the function of thepresent embodiment.

In case of photographing the original documents with bar codes, theoperator turns on a power switch (step 51), then turns off the modeselector switch 120 to select the first mode, and feeds the originaldocuments 4 without key input (steps 52-54). Thus the original document4, of which bar code is exactly read by the bar code scanner 112, isadvanced in the direction A by means of the transport means 111, guideplate 113 and transport means 115, and is photographed on the microfilmby the camera 118. At the same time the information of the bar code readby the scanner 112 and the frame address of the image are stored in thememory M.

On the other hand, if the bar code of the original document 4 cannot beexactly read due to the smear or lack of the bar code (step 55), thereject solenoid 114 is energized to move the guide plate 113, therebyguiding the original document 4 to the reject tray 116 (steps 57, 58).After the original document is discharged to the reject tray 116, thereject solenoid 114 is deactivated (step 59) whereby the guide plate 113returns to the original position. The operations of the steps 52 to 59are repeated until the original documents 4 on the feed tray 110 becomeexhausted (step 60).

For photographing the original document discharged to the reject tray116, the mode selector switch 120 is maintained off (step 52). Then thebar code information of said original document is entered with the keysof the key input unit 103, and said original document is fed again(steps 53, 62). In this case the bar code scanner 122 does not effectthe reading operation, so that the original document 4 is photographedwith the camera 118 without rejection. At the same time the bar codeinformation entered from the key input unit 103 and the frame address ofthe image are stored in the memory M (step 56). The photographing of allthe original documents is completed by repeated the above-explainedoperations for all the original documents to be refed. In this mannerthe original recording and the preparation of index data can be achievedalso for the original document of which bar code cannot be read. Upondetecting an original document, the sensor S2 releases a signalinstructing the start of reading operation of the bar code scanner 112.When the bar code information is entered from the key input unit 103,the output signal of the sensor S2 is cancelled, so that the bar codescanner 112 does not effect the reading operation even when the originaldocument is detected by the sensor S2.

Also upon detecting an original document, the sensor S3 releases asignal instructing the start of photographing operation of the camera118. Said signal from the sensor S3 is counted by a counter in thecontrol circuit 122, and the count of said counter is sent as the frameaddress to the memory M. Said counter is reset when the microfilm in thecamera 118 is replaced. The sensors S1, S2, S3 are composed for exampleof microswitches or photocells.

Also the original documents not bearing bar codes can be photographedwith the preparation of index data, without rejection, by means of theinput of the index information from the key input unit 103.

In case of conducting the photographing operation only, without theindexing, the operator at first turns on the power supply (step 51), andturns on the mode selector switch 120 to select the second mode (step52). In response the alarm lamp 121 is turned on (step 61), and theoriginal document is advanced (step 62), whereby said original document4 is photographed without the reading of the bar code (steps 56, 60). Inthis case the step 56 effects the photographing operation only. Thealarm lamp 121 is turned on when the mode selector switch is turned on,in order to prevent a mistake that original documents with bar codes arephotographed in this state without the reading of the index data,without being noticed by the operator.

FIG. 19 illustrates a microfilm on which images and blip marks arerecorded. The image of the original document is recorded in each frame210 of the microfilm F, and a blip mark 209 is recorded at the side ofeach frame. Numbers C are frame addresses, namely addresses of theimages recorded on the microfilm. Said addresses are only shown forfacilitating the understanding, but are not recorded on the film.

FIG. 20 shows index data stored in the memory M, consisting of frameaddresses d and bar code information c. For example an original with theoriginal number "5678" has a frame address "2" on microfilm F,indicating that the image of said original document is recorded in the2nd frame of said film F.

FIG. 16 shows an image recording apparatus constituting a fifthembodiment of the present invention, wherein same components as those inthe foregoing embodiment are represented by same symbols or numbers. Inthe present embodiment, at the downstream side of the camera 118, thereis provided a rejecting unit composed of the guide plate 113 and thereject solenoid 114. The photographing operation is executed, as in thepreceding embodiment, according to the sequence shown in FIG. 15. Thus,also in the present embodiment, the original document of which bar codeis not read is discharged to the reject tray 116 by the function of thesolenoid 114. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 16, there can be employedonly one transport means. Besides the trays 116, 119 can be superposedvertically, so that the apparatus can be compactized.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment ofthe present invention, utilizing the apparatus shown in FIG. 16 andinvolving additional functions. In this embodiment, the bar code is readwith the scanner 112 and the original document is photographed with thecamera 118 as in the preceding embodiment (steps 71-80, 85). On theother hand, in case the mode selector switch 120 is turned on (steps 72,81) or data input is made with the keys (step 73), the originaldocuments 4 are photographed (step 83) and then only those bearing barcodes are rejected and guided to the tray 116 (step 84) while thoselacking the bar codes are guided to the tray 119. The presence orabsence of bar code is identified from the output signal of the bar codescanner 112 obtained by scanning said original document.

In the present embodiment it is possible to check that an originaldocument with bar code is transported, in addition to the check with thealarm lamp 121.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment ofthe present invention. In this embodiment, the bar code is read with thescanner 112 and the original document is photographed with the camera118 as in the preceding embodiment (steps 101-110, 116), but, withrespect to an original document bearing bar code, at the key input andsheet feeding (steps 103, 112), the bar code information entered fromthe keys is compared with that read with the scanner 112 (steps 113,114), and the photographing operation is conducted only for the originaldocuments for which the two have coincided, and those not bearing thebar code (steps 115). In this manner the present embodiment has afunction of checking whether the index data entered with the keys arecorrect.

The foregoing embodiments have been explained by an apparatus employingbar codes and a microfilm camera, but the present invention is notlimited to these embodiments. For example the bar code can be replacedother codes for example readable with OCR or MICR. Also the recordingmeans is not limited to a structure for recording on a microfilm, butcan be means for recording the original image on a recording medium suchas an optical disk or a magnetic tape through an image sensor such as aCCD, or electrophotographic recording means.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 18, the original documents ofwhich index data could not be read can be securely selected, and can besubjected to image recording anew by the entry of the index data fromthe input means. It is therefore not necessary to add new codeinformation to the original document at said recording, as required inthe conventional apparatus. Consequently the efficiency of the recordingoperation can be significantly improved, and the lack of input of indexdata, resulting from the cumbersome operations, can be prevented.

Also in case of selecting the second mode, enabling the image recordingoperation only, increases the field of use of the apparatus, and analarm given in such case allows to check for the forgotten input of theindex data.

FIG. 21 shows an image recording apparatus constituting a sixthembodiment of the present invention, wherein provided is a display unit222 for displaying the number of photographed original documents or thebar code data.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a control system of said sixth embodiment,and FIG. 23 is a flow chart of the function thereof.

In the following there will be explained the function of the presentembodiment, with reference to FIG. 23.

In case of photographing the original documents 4 with bar codes, theoperator turns on the power switch (step 121), then resets the displayunit 222 to a mode of indicating the number of photographed originaldocuments (step 122), and feeds the original documents 4 without turningon the mode selector switch 120 and without the input with the bar codereader 6 (steps 123-125). Thus the original document, subjected to thereading of the bar code with the bar code scanner 112, is transported tothe photographing position 118a by means of the transport means 111,guide plate 113 and transport means 115, and is photographed on themicrofilm by the camera 118 (step 127). At the same time, the number ofphotographing operations is indicated on the display unit 222 (step128). On the other hand, if the bar code of the original document 4 hasnot been correctly read (step 126), the reject solenoid 114 is energizedto shift the guide plate 113 whereby the original document 4 is guidedto the reject tray 116 (step 130, 131). After a predetermined time, thereject solenoid 114 is deactivated (step 132) to return the guide plate113 to the original position. Then the steps 123 to 132 are repeateduntil the original documents 4 on the feed tray 110 are exhausted (step137).

For photographing the rejected original documents 4, the mode selectorswitch 120 is not turned on (step 123), and the index data of theoriginal document are read with the bar code reader 6 (step 124). At thesame time the display mode of the display unit is switched to thedisplay of the bar code number (step 124) thereby allowing confirmationof the input data. Then said original document, of which index data havebeen entered, is fed again (step 135). In this case the bar code scanner112 does not effect the reading operation, so that the original document4 is photographed without being rejected, and the display unit is againswitched to the display of the number of photographing operations (steps127, 128, 136, 129, 137). In this manner all the original documents 4can be photographed (step 138).

In case of effecting the photographing operation only, without theindexing, the operator turns on the power supply (step 121), then resetsthe display mode to the display of the number of photographingoperations (step 122), and turns on the mode selector switch 121 (step123). In response the alarm lamp 121 is turned on (step 133), and thesheet feeding is conducted (step 135). Thus the original document 4 isphotographed without the reading of the bar code (step 127). At the sametime the display unit 222 indicates the number of photographed originaldocuments (steps 128, 129). In this manner the photographing operationcan be completed (steps 137, 138). In this case the alarm lamp 121 isturned on when the mode selector switch is turned on, in order toprevent a mistake that original documents with bar codes arephotographed in this state without the reading of the index data,without being noticed by the operator.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment ofthe present invention, utilizing the apparatus shown in FIG. 21 andinvolving additional functions. In this embodiment the sensor S1 fordetecting the sensor in the feed tray 110 functions also as a modepreferential switch, whereby the alarm lamp 121 is turned on when thesensor S1 detects the original document. When the original document 4 ispresent in the feed tray 110, the first mode for automatically readingthe bar code of the original document with the bar code scanner 112 andphotographing the image is selected in preference to the second mode forreading the bar code of the original document with the bar code reader 6and photographing the image. At the photographing, the power switch isturned on (step 141), and the display unit 222 is reset to a mode ofdisplaying the number of photographing operations (step 142). Then, ifthe original document 4 is present in the feed tray 110, the sensor S1is activated (step 143) to preferentially select the first mode,whereby, as in the preceding embodiment, the bar code is read with thebar code scanner 112 and the image is photographed (steps 144-152). Inthis state the reading of the bar code with the bar code reader 6 andthe key input are not accepted. Then, when the original documents in thefeed tray 110 are exhausted, the sensor S1 is deactivated (step 143) toenable the bar code reading and the photographing in the second mode.Thus, as in the preceding embodiment, the rejected original documentsare subjected to the bar code reading with the bar code reader 6 and thephotographing operation (steps 154, 155, 156, 147, 148, 157, 147, 158).In this manner the photographing operation for all the originaldocuments is completed (step 159).

On the other hand, in case of photographing without indexing, after thesensor S1 is activated (step 143), the photographing switch 120 isturned on (step 144), and the original feeding and the photographing areconducted as in the preceding embodiment (steps 153, 156, 147, 148, 149,158). The photographing operation is completed in this manner (step159).

In the present embodiment, since the first mode is selected inpreference to the second mode, the manipulation of the bar code reader 6during the bar code reading and the image photographing in the firstmode does not cause any erroneous operation.

The foregoing embodiments have been explained with an apparatusemploying a bar code reader, a bar code scanner and a microfilm camera,but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. Forexample the bar code reader may be replaced by a key input unit or ahand-held scanner utilizing a CCD.

In the foregoing embodiment, the use of the bar code reader as inputmeans eliminates erroneous input caused for example by errors in keymanipulation, in comparison with the case of using a key input unit,thereby enabling exact and rapid reading and input of the code data.

In addition the preferential selection of the first mode prevents theerroneous operation even if the input unit is manipulated during the barcode reading and image photographing in the first mode.

Also the use of a display unit, capable of indicating the number ofrecorded images at the photographing of the original image andindicating the index data at the index data reading with the inputmeans, ensures more accurate data reading and image photographingoperations.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show an image recording apparatus constituting a seventhembodiment of the present invention, wherein the bar code reader 6 isconnected to the photographing unit 101, and the key input unit 103 isprovided in said photographing unit 101.

The bar code scanner 112 is used as reading means for entering the indexdata by automatically reading the bar code attached to the originaldocument 4 during the transportation thereof, while the bar code reader6 constitutes first input means for entering the index data by manualreading of the bar code, and the key input unit 103 constitutes secondinput means for manual entry of the index data. The index data enteredby said reading means and input means are supplied to a control circuit306 provided in the photographing unit 1, and are then supplied to thecontrol unit 102 and stored therein.

FIG. 27 shows the control system of the present embodiment. The bar codescanner 112, key input unit 103, reject solenoid 114, camera 118, modeselector switch 120, alarm lamp 121 and display unit 222 are connectedto the control circuit 306, and the bar code reader 6 is also connectedthereto. Said control circuit 306 is connected to the control unit 102consisting of a computer, and the index data are once entered into thecontrol circuit 306 and then transferred to the control unit 102.

Now reference is made to FIG. 28 for explaining the function of thepresent embodiment.

In case of photographing original documents with bar codes, the operatorat first turns on the power switch (step 201), then resets the displayunit to a mode of displaying the number of photographed images (step202), and effects the feeding of the original document without turningon the switch 120 and without the input by the bar code reader 6 or thekey input unit 103 (steps 203-206). In response, the original document,subjected to the bar code reading with the bar code scanner 112, istransported in a direction shown in FIG. 26 by means of the transportmeans 111, guide plate 113 and transport means 115. Then the sensor S3is activated upon detecting the original document 4 on the belt 115c,whereupon the index data are transferred from the control circuit 206 tothe control unit 106 (steps 207-209). Thereafter the original documentis photographed on the microfilm with the camera 118 (step 210), and thenumber of photographing operations is simultaneously indicated on thedipslay unit 222 (step 212). On the other hand, when the bar code of theoriginal document is not properly read (step 207), the reject solenoid114 is energized to shift the guide plate 113, whereby the originaldocument is guided to the reject tray 116 (steps 213, 214). Thereafterthe reject solenoid 114 is deactivated (step 215) to return the guideplate 113 to the original position. The steps 201-215 are repeated untilthe original documents on the feed tray 110 are exhausted (step 216).

In case of photographing the rejected original documents, the switch 120is not turned on (step 203), and the index data of each originaldocument are entered into the control circuit 306 by means of the barcode reader 6 or the key input unit 103 (steps 204, 205). At the sametime the display unit 222 is shifted to a mode of displaying the indexdata (step 217), thereby allowing to confirm the entered data. Then theoriginal document, of which index data have been entered is fed again(step 218). In this case, since the bar code scanner 112 does notexecute the reading operation, the original document is sent onto thebelt 115c without rejection. Then the sensor S3 is activated upondetecting said original document, whereby the index data are transferredfrom the control circuit 306 to the control unit 102 (steps 208, 209).The index data entered into the control circuit 206 are sent to thecontrol unit 102 through a line same as that used for the transfer ofthe index data entered by the key input unit 103, and a same timing asthe sensor S3 is activated, regardless whether the first-mentioned indexdata are entered by the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit 103.Also the reading and input of the bar code data can be made through thebar code reader 6 or the key input unit 103, depending on the state ofthe original document.

The original document on which index data have been entered istransported to the photographing position 118a on the belt 115c foreffecting the photographing operation, and, at the same time, thedisplay unit 222 is simultaneously shifted to a mode of indicating thenumber of photographing operations (steps 210, 211, 219, 212, 216). Inthis manner the photographing operation is completed for all theoriginal documents (step 220).

In case of effecting the photographing operation only, without indexing,the operator turns on the power supply (step 201), then resets thedisplay to a mode of indicating the number of photographing operations(step 202), and turns on the switch 120 (step 203). In response thealarm lamp 121 is turned on (step 221), and the original feeding isconducted (step 222), whereupon the original is photographed without thereading of the bar code (step 210). At the same time the display unit222 indicates the number of photographing operations (steps 211, 212).The photographing operation can be completed in this manner (step 216,220).

In the present embodiment, even when the bar code data cannot be exactlyread with the bar code scanner 112 constituting the reading means, thebar code data can be still entered either from the bar code reader 6serving as the first input means or the key input unit 103 serving asthe second input means, according to the smear or lack of the originaldocument, so that the code data can be securely entered for all theoriginal documents.

Also the transfer of the code data to the control unit 102 is alwaysconducted through a same line and at a same timing. It is thereforepossible to shorten the execution time and to improve the efficiency ofprocessing of the index data.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment ofthe present invention, employing the apparatus shown in FIGS. 25 and 26and involving additional functions. In the present embodiment, thesensor S1 for detecting the original document in the feed tray 110functions also as a preferential mode switch, and, when an originaldocument is present in the feed tray 110, there is selected the firstmode for automatically reading the bar code of the original documentwith the bar code scanner 112 and photographing said original document,in preference to the second mode for entering the index data of theoriginal document with the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit 103and photographing said original document. At first the operator turns onthe power switch (step 301) and resets the display to a mode ofindicating the number of photographing operations (step 302). Then, ifan original document is present in the feed tray 110, the sensor S1 isactivated (step 303), whereby the first mode is preferentially selectedto effect the bar code reading with the bar code scanner 112 and thephotographing operation (steps 304-315). In this state the reading andinput of the bar code with the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit103 are not accepted. When the original documents in the feed tray 110are exhausted, the sensor S1 is deactivated (step 303) to enable the barcode reading and the photographing in the second mode. Thus, as in thepreceding embodiment, the rejected original documents are subjected tothe bar code reading with the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit103 and the photographing operation (steps 316, 317, 318, 319, 307, 308,309, 310, 320, 311, 312). In this manner the photographing operation canbe completed for all the original documents (step 321).

Also in case of effecting the photographing operation only without theindexing, the sensor S1 is activated (step 303), then the switch 120 isturned on (step 304), and the feeding and photographing of the originaldocument are conducted in the same procedure as in the precedingembodiment (steps 322, 323, 309, 310, 311, 312). The photographingoperation can be completed in this manner (step 321).

The present embodiment has same advantages as in the precedingembodiment. In addition, since the first mode is selected in preferenceto the second mode, no errors in operation are caused by themanipulation of the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit 103 duringthe bar code reading and photographing operations in the first mode.

FIG. 30 shows still another embodiment of the image recording apparatusof the present invention, wherein same components as those in FIG. 26are represented by same symbols.

In this embodiment, a rejecting unit, consisting of the guide plate 113and the reject solenoid 114, is positioned at the downstream side of thecamera 118. The photographing operation is conducted as in the precedingembodiment according to the sequence shown in FIG. 28. Also in thepresent embodiment, the positional relationship between the camera 118and the rejecting unit is not important, since the original documentsare not photographed if the bar codes thereof are not read.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image recording apparatus comprising:readingmeans for reading information for identifying an original document;recording means from recording an image of the original document on arecording medium; section means for selecting a first mode in which theidentifying information is read, and a second mode in which theidentifying information is not read; and control means for controllingsaid recording means, wherein in the first mode the original document isrecorded when the identifying information can be read correctly by saidreading means and is not recorded when the identifying information cannot be read correctly by said reading means, and wherein in the secondmode the original document is recorded without reading the identifyinginformation.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising afirst path in which the original document is conveyed, a second pathwhich is branched from said first path, and switch means for switchingand selectively conveying the original document from said first path tosaid second path, wherein said reading means and recording means aredisposed along said first path, and wherein the original document fromwhich the identifying information can not be read is conveyed to saidsecond path.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including afirst tray for receiving the original document on which the image hasbeen recorded by said recording means, a second tray for receiving theoriginal document on which the image has not been recorded, anddistribution means for distributing the original document which haspassed by said recording means to either said first tray or said secondtray selectively.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidrecording means is disposed downstream of said reading means withrespect to a conveying direction of the original document, and whereinsaid second path is branched from said first path at a portion of saidapparatus between said reading means and said recording means.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first tray forreceiving the original document transported through the first path, anda second tray for receiving the original document transported throughthe second path.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising input means for entering identifying information.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 6, wherein said input means is a reader foreffecting manual scanning for reading the identifying information.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 6, wherein said input means is a keyboard.9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control meanscontrols said recording means to record the original document only whenthe identifying information has been input by said input means, or whenthe identifying information has ben read correctly by said reading meansin the first mode.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising conveying means for conveying the original document along apredetermined path, memory means for storing the identifying informationread by said reading means and detection means for detecting thepresence of the original document, wherein the identifying informationis stored in said memory means based on detection of the originaldocument by said detection means.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising prohibition means for prohibiting reading of theidentifying information by said reading means, when the second mode isselected by said selector means.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said identifying information is a digital code.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein said digital code is a bar code.
 14. Anapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second control meansfor operating said recording means so that the image is recorded ontothe recording medium in response to reading of the identifyinginformation by said reading means.
 15. An apparatus according to claim1, further comprising generating means for generating addressinformation of the image recorded on the recording medium; memory meansfor storing the address information and the identifying information readby said reading means; and display means for displaying the informationstored in said memory means.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15,wherein said reading means is a scanner for scanning the identifyinginformation.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisingdisplay means, count means for counting the number of the originaldocument, display control means for controlling said display means todisplay either the number of the original document counted by said countmeans or the identifying information read by said reading means on saiddisplay means selectively.
 18. An image recording system,comprising:reading means for reading an identifying data on an originaldocument; inputting means for inputting the identifying data manually;recording means for recording the image of the original document onto arecording medium; conveying means for conveying the original document toa reading position of said reading means and a recording position ofsaid recording means; selector means for selecting a first mode or asecond mode; and control means for controlling said recording means torecord the original document when said reading means reads theidentifying data in the fist mode, and to record the original documentwithout reading the identifying data in the second mode, wherein theidentifying data is input by said inputting means in the second mode.